Same here, I kinda got choked up reading your thread cause I'm reminded of my childhood dog I grew up with. He was a massive dog, 150lbs or so and god did I love him.
I had to watch him wither away because of an intestinal cancer and the day I lost him was pretty hard on me.
Like you, I have a dog now that I inherited when a family member was killed in a motorcycle accident. She's a golden retriever and she is the most lovable creature there is in the world. She would do anything for me.
I'm a total dog freak, I love them so much.
Here's my girl :
She stinks, but goddamn is she lovable